The Plenipotentiary Conference 2010 (PP-10) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), started in Guadalajara, Mexico, the highest body of the organisation whose work extends until 22 October. This event is of particular importance for the future of ITU, for it is crucial to analyse the current and next administration of the Union, prepare new and more efficient forms of management and to amend the basic governing texts of ITU currently in force - the Constitution and the Convention.
One of the themes highlighted in PP-10 is to hold elections to the Council and for the various elective posts - Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General as well as the Directors of the three Bureaux (Standardisation - ITU-T, Radiocommunications - ITU-R and Development - ITU.D) and members of the Committee of the Radio Regulations Board (RRB). Portugal presents its candidacy for membership of the Council, a body whose main function is to ensure that in the interval between Plenipotentiary Conferences, the ITU policies and strategies activities are consistent with those defined in advance by the plenipotentiaries.
A thorough debate in several areas is anticipated regarding the role of ITU in the Telecommunications Sector. First, the definition of telecommunications will be discussed, given that several Member States argue that it should include the concept of information and communication technologies. Other promising key themes to partake in this PP are the radio communications, management and allocation of resources associated with the IPv6 protocol, cybersecurity and the preparation of the revision of the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR).
The definition of policy and strategic planning, and budgetary definition are other issues of major relevance for the PP-10, alongside the strengthening of the synchronization between financial and operational strategic plans, providing for a broad debate on the approval of the Financial Plan for the four-year-period 2012-2015.
The PP-10 agenda will also include discussions on the need to stabilize its basic texts, the Constitution and the Convention, as approved in Geneva in 1992 and subsequently amended in Kyoto (1994, Minneapolis (1998), Marrakech (2002) and Antalya (2006). Since each PP adopts amendments to the referred texts, it creates some instability and difficulty of interpretation due to the many texts that overlap. As such, the PP-10 should trigger a revision process of the governing procedures with a view to submitting proposals to stabilize the Constitution and Convention at the next PP.
Portugal's main goals include its reelection to the ITU Council and the defense of the European Common Proposals (ECP), signed by Portugal within the framework of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). The Portuguese delegation strives to defend the ECP aiming to improve the effectiveness of ITU management and that promote transparency and predictability of the costs associated to the projects approved in conferences, assemblies and meetings of the Union.
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- ITU - International Telecommunication Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=66695
